HOME | DD

Description
Why someone might believe in [a] God or in religion (could be one or all of these reasons at one time or another)

1. They can’t explain the existence or origin of something, so they believe God must have done it, because he *knows* everything.

2. The universe seems to them to be too complex, too ordered, too beautiful, to have appeared naturally.

3. They’ve been educated to 'believe'.

4. They feel that their faith in something greater than his/herself gives their life purpose and meaning.

5. They've “felt” the presence / touch of God. (autosuggestion basically)

6. It’s comforting to believe that someone is taking care of them.

7. They’re afraid of death, and want to believe that it’s not the end, that they simply go to a better place.

8. They feel that (finite) life in this world is meaningless or insignificant unless there is something afterwards.

9. They want to believe that there’s some kind of absolute, perfect justice in the universe, even if only after death.

10. They've had some unusual experience that made caused them to believe. (Not necessarily a miracle, but an “amazing coincidence”. Say, they prayed for something that was quite improbable, and it happened. This is usually referred to as “counting the hits and ignoring the misses”)

11. They’ve witnessed an apparent miracle. { i.e.: 1] A disease goes into remission, or actually vanishes, even though doctors were pessimistic; 2] Someone “speaks in tongues”, or acting as if they were possessed; 3] Something, by random chance and perception, looks like a religious entity (such as Jesus or the Virgin Mary in tree bark, or in a slice of pizza); 4] Statues or pictures of religious entities, usually in a church, appear to “cry” or “bleed” (autosuggestion, drug or chemical imbalanced induced) }

12. They’re desperate for a miracle.

13. They see death approaching them (figuratively, well usually...).

14. The example of another believer or believers inspired them.

15. They like or need the sense of community and companionship that comes from belonging to a church or other religious organization. Other believers are there for them in times of need.

16. Being told what to do and what to think comforts them.

17. While reading the Bible, something made them believe, as it it was the only doctrine that allowed him/her to make sense of life or it justified their thoughts, feelings or actions.

18. They may be afraid of what they might do if they did not make themselves believe there was an omnipotent power to judge their actions (or another way to put this might be that they get strength from their belief in God to better themselves/ to aid in their self control)

19. They have a guilty conciseness over past actions or thoughts, possibly something that has never been forgiven so they seek forgiveness from 'someone'.

20. They consciously do not believe but claim they do to avoid angering or alienating friends, family or society at large, possibly for their own safety.

Description
Why someone might believe in [a] God or in religion (could be one or all of these reasons at one time or another)

1. They can’t explain the existence or origin of something, so they believe God must have done it, because he *knows* everything.

2. The universe seems to them to be too complex, too ordered, too beautiful, to have appeared naturally.

3. They’ve been educated to 'believe'.

4. They feel that their faith in something greater than his/herself gives their life purpose and meaning.

5. They've “felt” the presence / touch of God. (autosuggestion basically)

6. It’s comforting to believe that someone is taking care of them.

7. They’re afraid of death, and want to believe that it’s not the end, that they simply go to a better place.

8. They feel that (finite) life in this world is meaningless or insignificant unless there is something afterwards.

9. They want to believe that there’s some kind of absolute, perfect justice in the universe, even if only after death.

10. They've had some unusual experience that made caused them to believe. (Not necessarily a miracle, but an “amazing coincidence”. Say, they prayed for something that was quite improbable, and it happened. This is usually referred to as “counting the hits and ignoring the misses”)

11. They’ve witnessed an apparent miracle. { i.e.: 1] A disease goes into remission, or actually vanishes, even though doctors were pessimistic; 2] Someone “speaks in tongues”, or acting as if they were possessed; 3] Something, by random chance and perception, looks like a religious entity (such as Jesus or the Virgin Mary in tree bark, or in a slice of pizza); 4] Statues or pictures of religious entities, usually in a church, appear to “cry” or “bleed” (autosuggestion, drug or chemical imbalanced induced) }

12. They’re desperate for a miracle.

13. They see death approaching them (figuratively, well usually...).

14. The example of another believer or believers inspired them.

15. They like or need the sense of community and companionship that comes from belonging to a church or other religious organization. Other believers are there for them in times of need.

16. Being told what to do and what to think comforts them.

17. While reading the Bible, something made them believe, as it it was the only doctrine that allowed him/her to make sense of life or it justified their thoughts, feelings or actions.

18. They may be afraid of what they might do if they did not make themselves believe there was an omnipotent power to judge their actions (or another way to put this might be that they get strength from their belief in God to better themselves/ to aid in their self control)

19. They have a guilty conciseness over past actions or thoughts, possibly something that has never been forgiven so they seek forgiveness from 'someone'.

20. They consciously do not believe but claim they do to avoid angering or alienating friends, family or society at large, possibly for their own safety.